Push-button actuated rear latch hook mechanism

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting within a vehicle, an object having at least one receptacle in a first main surface. The apparatus comprises a base having a mounting surface. A latch and a frame are movable between latched and unlatched positions and are biased toward the latched position by a first biasing element. One or more push buttons are movable between extended and depressed positions and are biased toward the extended position by a second biasing element. A lower portion of the push button blocks and allows movement of the frame toward the latched position when the push button is in the extended and depressed position, respectively. The first main surface pushes the push button to the depressed position, thereby enabling the first biasing element to move the latch and the frame to the latched position, in which the latch engages with the at least one receptacle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to mounting apparatuses, andmore particularly, to apparatuses for securely mounting objects within amoving vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Specialized vehicles are an essential tool in many differentprofessions. For example, professions such as law enforcement commonlyutilize a number of specialized electronic apparatuses (e.g., computers,radio systems, sirens) that are not found in conventional automobiles.Other professions and enterprises also commonly have a need to usevehicles with similar specialized equipment. For example, customizedelectronics apparatuses are frequently installed in vehicles such asforklifts, waste collection trucks, utility trucks, constructionequipment and agricultural equipment. While vehicles may be speciallymanufactured that include these apparatuses, these apparatuses may alsobe added to conventional automobiles or other vehicles throughafter-market installations. This is particularly true in the context oflaw enforcement vehicles, because these vehicles are usually based onconventional road vehicles, and each vehicle can require uniquecustomizations depending upon the particular requirements of thejurisdiction or purpose.

While vehicles are commonly fitted with custom electronics and otherequipment, it can be problematic to install such devices in a simple andeffective manner. For example, conventional vehicle interior cabins maylack equipment that provides suitable mechanical and/or electricalinterfaces for specialized electronic apparatuses. This leads toirregular and relatively inefficient mounting of such devices, as wellas inability to maintain specialized electronic apparatuses or equipmentin safe and reliable functioning condition.

There remains a need to provide alternative docking stations configuredto mount specialized electronic apparatuses or equipment in vehicles,and particularly for retrofitting existing vehicles to includespecialized electronic apparatuses or equipment.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention are directed to apparatuses formounting objects within a vehicle.

In one exemplary aspect, there is provided apparatus for mounting anobject within a vehicle. The object has a first main surface and atleast one receptacle in the first main surface. The apparatus comprisesa base configured to receive the object and the base comprises amounting surface facing the first main surface of the object when theobject is mounted to the base. The apparatus includes a latch extendingfrom the mounting surface of the base and being movable between alatched position and an unlatched position. The apparatus includes aframe positioned within the base and fixedly coupled to the latch suchthat the frame is movable between the latched position and the unlatchedposition. The apparatus has a first biasing element configured to biasthe latch and the frame toward the latched position. The apparatusincludes one or more push buttons extending from the mounting surface ofthe base, the one or more push buttons being movable between an extendedposition and a depressed position. At least one of the one or more pushbuttons has a lower portion within the base and the lower portion ispositioned to block movement of the frame from the unlatched positiontoward the latched position when the push button is in the extendedposition. The lower portion is positioned to allow movement of the framefrom the unlatched position toward the latched position when the atleast one of the one or more push buttons is in the depressed position.The apparatus comprises one or more second biasing elements associatedwith respective ones of the one or more push buttons. The one or moresecond biasing elements are configured to bias the one or more pushbuttons toward the extended position. When the object is positionedagainst the mounting surface, the first main surface of the objectpushes the one or more push buttons to the depressed position, therebyenabling the first biasing element to move the latch and the frame tothe latched position, in which the latch engages with the at least onereceptacle in the first main surface to secure the object to the base.

In some exemplary aspects, the one or more push buttons comprise a pairof push buttons, and the one or more second biasing elements comprise apair of second biasing elements.

In some exemplary aspects, each of the pair of push buttons has thelower portion positioned to block movement of the frame from theunlatched position toward the latched position when the push button isin the extended position.

In some exemplary aspects, each of the pair of push buttons has an upperportion extending from the mounting surface of the base, the upperportion fixedly coupled to the respective lower portion of each of thepair of push buttons.

In some exemplary aspects, the latch is positioned between the pair ofpush buttons.

In some exemplary aspects, the latch and the frame are movable betweenthe latched position and the unlatched position in a direction parallelto the mounting surface.

In some exemplary aspects, the one or more push buttons are movablebetween the extended position and the depressed position in a directionorthogonal to the mounting surface.

In some exemplary aspects, the lower portion of the at least one of theone or more push buttons comprises a first stop surface positioned toengage with a second stop surface of the frame to block the movement ofthe frame from the unlatched position toward the latched position whenthe push button is in the extended position, and wherein when the atleast one of the one or more push buttons is in the depressed positionand the frame is in the latched position, the second stop surface of theframe is positioned between the mounting surface of the base and thefirst stop surface of the at least one of the one or more push buttons.

In some exemplary aspects, the mounting surface comprises one or moreposts configured to mate with corresponding recesses of the object toalign the object with the base during mounting.

In some exemplary aspects, each of the one or more posts is positionedadjacent a respective one of the one or more push buttons.

In some exemplary aspects, the apparatus further comprises a leverpositioned at a surface of the base, the lever movably coupled to theframe.

In some exemplary aspects, the lever is not fixedly coupled to theframe.

In some exemplary aspects, the lever is positioned on a peripheral sidesurface of the base adjacent the mounting surface.

In some exemplary aspects, the lever is configured to be pressed to movethe frame and the latch from the latched position to the unlatchedposition.

In some exemplary aspects, when the lever is pressed, the latch and theframe are moved toward the unlatched position, thereby enabling the oneor more second biasing elements to move the one or more push buttons tothe extended position, in which the lower portion of the at least one ofthe one or more push buttons blocks the frame from returning to thelatched position.

In some exemplary aspects, when the object is mounted to the mountingsurface, the one or more second biasing elements generate sufficientbiasing force elevate the object away from the mounting surface inmoving the one or more push buttons to the extended position.

In some exemplary aspects, the apparatus further comprises one or moreprojections extending from the base and configured to engage with aperipheral side surface of the object, the engagement between the one ormore projections and the peripheral side surface of the object enablingthe object to be pivoted between a mounted and an unmounted position ofthe object relative to the mounting surface of the base.

In some exemplary aspects, the apparatus further comprises electricalcontacts positioned in an opening within the mounting surface, theelectrical contacts configured to mate with corresponding contacts onthe first main surface of the object.

In some exemplary aspects, the frame defines a further openingsurrounding the opening within the mounting surface in which theelectrical contacts are positioned.

In another exemplary aspect, there is provided a method for mounting anobject within a vehicle. The object has a first main surface, and atleast one receptacle in the first main surface The method includespositioning the object with the first main surface facing a mountingsurface of a base configured to receive the object, a latch and one ormore push buttons extending from the mounting surface. The methodfurther includes moving the object toward the mounting surface such thatthe first main surface pushes the one or more push buttons to adepressed position, the movement of the one or more push buttons to thedepressed position enabling the latch to move to a latched position inwhich the latch engages with the at least one receptacle in the firstmain surface to secure the object to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with likeelements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similarelements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to theplurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referringto specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or toa non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designationmay be omitted. In addition, according to common practice, the variousfeatures of the drawings are not drawn to scale unless otherwiseindicated, and the dimensions of the various features may be expanded orreduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

FIGS. 1A-1B show side views of an exemplary apparatus for mounting anobject within a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary base of the apparatus of FIG.1 .

FIGS. 3A-3B show perspective views of the base of FIG. 2 , showing anexemplary push button and an exemplary latch.

FIG. 4A shows a cross-section view of a portion of the base of FIG. 2 ,showing an unlatched position of the latch.

FIG. 4B shows a cross-section view of a portion of the base of FIG. 2 ,showing an extended position of the push button when the latch is in theunlatched position.

FIG. 5A shows a cross-section view of a portion of the base of FIG. 2 ,showing a latched position of the latch.

FIG. 5B shows a cross-section view of a portion of the base of FIG. 2 ,showing a depressed position of the push button when the latch is in thelatched position.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a portion of the base of FIG. 2 ,showing an exemplary post.

FIG. 7A-7B show perspective views of the base of FIG. 2 , showing anexemplary lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatuses disclosed herein are usable to provide mounting forobjects within conventional vehicles (such as automobiles). While thedisclosed apparatuses are described herein with respect to mountingwithin the cabin of a vehicle, it will be understood that the inventionis not so limited. To the contrary, aspects of the present invention areusable in any application in which a mount is desired.

While any objects may be mounted to the disclosed exemplary embodiments,the disclosed mounting apparatuses are particularly suitable formounting electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, tablets,radios, or the like. Other electronic devices or objects mountable withthe disclosed apparatuses will be known to those of ordinary skill inthe art from the description herein. The mounting apparatuses may beconfigured to hold the device in a fixed position, or to allow thedevice to move (e.g., rotate, pivot, etc.) between various positions(e.g., use and stowed positions, driver-side and passenger-side usepositions, movement to accommodate user preferences, etc.). In addition,mounting apparatuses may be configured to mount multiple objects ordevices simultaneously.

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1A-1B illustrates an exemplaryapparatus 100 for mounting one or more objects 200 within a vehiclecabin. For one example, an object 200 may have a first main surface 102(e.g., a bottom or back surface of the computer or laptop), a secondmain surface 156 opposite the first main surface 102 (e.g., a computeror laptop surface including a keyboard, touchscreen, and/or display),one or more peripheral side surfaces 150 at least partially surroundingthe first and/or second main surfaces, and at least one receptacle 103in the first main surface 102.

An exemplary base 106 of the apparatus 100 is configured to receive theone or more objects 200. In some examples, the base 106 may bepositioned along the fore-aft centerline of a vehicle between the frontseating positions, and generally within arm's reach of the driver. Thebase 106 generally includes a mounting surface 108 configured to facethe first main surface 102 of the object 200. As seen in FIGS. 1A-1B,the mounting surface 108 is positioned to face the first main surface102 of the object 200 when the object 200 is received by the base 106.The base 106 may further comprise one or more peripheral side surfaces110, as shown in FIG. 7A.

Additionally or optionally, the first main surface 102 of the object 200is positioned, such that one or more electrical contacts in the firstmain surface 102 of the object 200 interface with one or more electricalcontacts 112 positioned in an opening 114 within the mounting surface108, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. The one or more electrical contacts 112 ofthe base 106 are configured to mate with corresponding electricalcontacts on the first main surface 102 of the object 200. As seen inFIG. 2 , the electrical contacts 112 may be disposed on a spring-loadeddocking connector 116, which is secured within the base 106 by a dockingconnector enclosure 118. The one or more electrical contacts 112 of thebase 106 are further positioned within a further opening 120 defined bya frame 122, the further opening 120 surrounding the opening 114 withinthe mounting surface 108.

The base 106 has sufficient rigidity and strength to securely fix one ormore different types of objects or accessories, such as a laptop ortablet computer, computer display screen, radio communication device,and so on. For example, the base 106 may comprise a metal part made of,for example, folded 20 gauge steel, cast aluminum, or the like. Theload-bearing capacity of the base 106 preferably is selected to hold thelargest compatible object without substantial movement during normaloperation of the object and movement of the vehicle. Persons or ordinaryskill in the art will understand how to design the base 106 to obtainthe desired rigidity and strength based on known engineering principles,which need not be explained in detail herein.

The base 106 may comprise a single unitary part, or it may be anassembly of structural elements comprising multiple individual unitaryparts. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the base 106 may be an assemblyof parts including the mounting surface 108, the frame 122, one or morepush buttons 124, a latch 126, and a rear cover 128. Certain componentsof base 106 may be housed within or between mounting surface 108 andrear cover 128. The mounting surface 108, the frame 122, the one or morepush buttons 124, and the latch 126 may be connected to each other usingany suitable fasteners or combinations of fastening means, such asscrews, nuts and bolts, rivets, welding, adhesives, and so on. Thevarious parts of the base 106 may be formed using any suitablematerials. For example, one or more of the parts may comprise sheetmetal, cast metal, or machined metals parts. Steel and aluminum areconsidered to be suitable materials, but other materials, such as carbonfiber reinforce plastics or other composite materials may be used.Unreinforced structural plastics also may be used. Folded sheet metal ispreferred for its low cost and high strength, but injection moldedplastics, or cast or machined metal parts may be desirable toaccommodate particularly complex shape requirements or reduce weight orpart count.

The mounting surface 108 may have any suitable size and shape.Preferably, as seen in FIGS. 1A-1B, the mounting surface 108 isconfigured to have a size and shape that generally corresponds to thesize and shape of the one or more objects 200 to be received.Additionally or optionally, the mounting surface 108 comprises agenerally planar surface and/or is configured to substantially contactor face the first main surface 102 of the object 200. Still further, asillustrated in FIG. 2 , the base 106 may comprise the mounting surface108 and the rear cover 128 coupled to the mounting surface 108, suchthat together the mounting surface 108 and the rear cover 128 togetherenclose one or more components therein, with mounting surface 108forming an upper side thereof and rear cover 128 forming an undersidethereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3A, the apparatus 100 comprises the latch126 configured to extend from the mounting surface 108 of the base 106.In a non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the frame 122positioned within the base 106 is fixedly coupled to the latch 126, suchthat the frame 122 is movable with the latch 126 between latched andunlatched positions of the latch 126. The frame 122 and the latch 126may be integrally formed as a single body of unitary construction, ormay be separate and distinct components configured to be fixedlyconnected to each other using any suitable fasteners or combinations offastening means, such as screws, nuts and bolts, rivets, welding,adhesives, and so on. Additionally or optionally, the latch 126 may bepositioned between the one or more push buttons 124, such as a pair ofpush buttons 124 (further discussed below). The latch 126 may have asize and shape that corresponds to the at least one receptacle (notshown) defined in the first main surface 102 of the object 200. Asdepicted, for example, in FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A, the latch 126 comprisesa hook portion 104 configured to engage with and secure the object 200when the object 200 is mounted to the base 106. Specifically, the hookportion 104 is configured to engaged with the at least one receptacle103 of the object 200 to prevent removal of object 200 from base 106.Other alternatives and variations of the latch 126 will be apparent topersons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.Latch 126 may further include a lock or other access control device toprevent release of a mounted object to unauthorized users. Suitablelocks and/or access control devices for use in controlling the releaseof latch 126 will be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The latch 126 is movable between the unlatched position (FIG. 4A) andthe latched position (FIG. 5A). To facilitate the movement of the latch126 between the unlatched and latched positions, the apparatus 100includes at least one first biasing element 130, such as springs,configured to bias the latch 126 and frame 122 from the unlatchedposition toward the latched position. As seen in FIGS. 4A and 5A, thelatch 126 is movable between the latched position and the unlatchedposition along or in a direction parallel to the mounting surface 108.In one example, latch 126 is movable between the latched position andthe unlatched position along or in a latch direction (FIG. 5A) and anunlatch direction (FIG. 4A) opposite the latch direction.

In the latched position (FIG. 5A), the latch 126 engages with the atleast one receptacle 103 in the first main surface 102 to secure theobject 200 to the base 106. Specifically, the hook portion 104 of thelatch 126 engages with the at least one receptacle 103 of the first mainsurface 102 of the object 200, such that the object 200 is held orsecured when it is mounted to the base 106. Conversely, as seen in FIG.4A, in the unlatched position, the hook portion 104 of the latch 126 ismoved out of engagement with the at least one receptacle 103 of thefirst main surface 102 of the object 200, such that the object 200 ismade removable from the base 106 or may be moved away from the mountingsurface 108 of the base 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3B, the apparatus 100 comprises one or morepush buttons 124 extending from the mounting surface 108 of the base106. For example, the one or more push buttons 124 may be configured toextend through openings 132 (FIG. 3A) defined by the mounting surface108 of the base 106. The one or more push buttons 124 are depicted inFIG. 2 as distinct components separate from one or more components ofthe apparatus 100. However, one of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand from the description herein that the one or more push buttons124 may be integrally formed together with any other of the one or morecomponents of the apparatus 100, such as the mounting surface 108 orframe 122, as a single body of unitary construction. Other alternativesand variations of the push buttons 124 will be apparent to persons ofordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

At least one of the one or more push buttons 124 has an upper portion134 extending from the mounting surface 108 of the base 106 and a lowerportion 136 positioned within the base 106. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4B,5B, the upper portion 134 may be fixedly coupled to the respective lowerportion 136 of each of the one or more push buttons 124. The upperportion 134 and the respective lower portion 136 are depicted as beingintegrally formed as a single body of unitary construction. However, oneof ordinary skill in the art would understand from the descriptionherein that the upper portion 134 and lower portion 136 may be distinctcomponents separate from each other and/or separate from the other oneor more components of the apparatus 100.

The lower portion 136 of the at least one of the one or more pushbuttons 124 may have any size or shape sufficient to be positionedwithin the base 106 or to move relative to the frame 122. In particular,the one or more push buttons 124 are configured to be movable between anextended position (FIG. 4B) and a depressed position (FIG. 5B). Forexample, the movement of the one or more buttons 124 between theextended and depressed positions is in a direction that is orthogonal tothe mounting surface 108. For example, the one or more buttons 124 movebetween the extended and depressed positions in a button unlatchdirection (FIG. 4B) and a button latch direction (FIG. 5B) that isopposite the unlatch direction. Still further, the one or more pushbuttons 124 are movable between the extended and the depressed positionsrelative to the frame 122.

Additionally or optionally, each of the one or more push buttons 124 maybe configured to define a cavity 138 within which a second biasingelement 140, such as a compression spring, is configured to bepositioned, such that one or more second biasing elements 140 areassociated with respective ones of the one or more push buttons 124. Theone or more second biasing elements 140 are configured to bias the oneor more push buttons 124 toward the extended position. Still further, asbest seen in FIGS. 4B and 5B, the one or more second biasing elements140 may be configured to wrap around a projection 142 defined by base106 and the projection 142 may accommodate for the translationalmovement of the one or more push buttons 124 relative to the frame 122between the extended and depressed positions.

As seen in FIG. 4B, when the at least one of the one or more pushbuttons 124 is in the extended position, the lower portion 136 of theone or more push buttons 124 is positioned to block movement of theframe 122 in the latch direction (i.e., from right to left) from theunlatched position toward the latched position. Specifically, the lowerportion 136 of the at least one of the one or more push buttons 124comprises a first stop surface 144 configured to engage with a secondstop surface 146 of the frame 122. In operation, the first stop surface144 of the lower portion 136 of the at least one of the one or more pushbuttons 124 is positioned to block movement of at least the second stopsurface 146 of the frame 122 from the unlatched position toward thelatched position. When the one or more push buttons 124 is in theextended position, the first stop surface 144 of the lower portion 136is positioned to block movement of the frame 122 from the unlatchedposition toward the latched position.

Conversely, as depicted in FIG. 5B, when the at least one of the one ormore push buttons 124 is in the depressed position, the lower portion136 of the one or more push buttons 124 is positioned to allow movementof the frame 122 from the unlatched position toward the latchedposition. Particularly, movement of the one or more push buttons 124toward the depressed position allows the second stop surface 146 of theframe 122 to move into a position between the mounting surface 108 ofthe base 106 and the first stop surface 144 of the at least one of theone or more push buttons 124. In operation, movement of the one or morepush buttons 124 toward the depressed position and movement of thesecond stop surface 146 of the frame 122 to a position between themounting surface 108 of the base 106 and the first stop surface 144 ofthe at least one of the one or more push buttons 124 corresponds tomovement of the frame 122 and latch 126 to the latched position.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more push buttons 124 includes apair of push buttons and the one or more second biasing elements 140comprise a pair of second biasing elements 140. Further, each of thepair of push buttons 124 has the lower portion 136 positioned to blockmovement of the frame 122 from the unlatched position toward the latchedposition when the push button 124 is in the extended position. Stillfurther, each of the pair of push buttons 124 has the upper portion 134extending from the mounting surface 108 of the base 106 and the upperportion 134 is fixedly coupled to the respective lower portion 136 ofeach of the pair of push buttons 124. Thus, in operation, when theobject 200 is positioned against the mounting surface 108, the firstmain surface 108 of the object 200 pushes the pair of push buttons 124toward the depressed position, thereby enabling the first biasingelement 130 to move the frame 122 and the latch 126 to the latchedposition. This embodiment ensures that each of the pair of push buttons124 must be pressed into the depressed position before the latch 126 andframe 122 can be released and a latching operation can occur. Thisrequirement of depression of each push button 124 may desirably ensureproper alignment of the object 200 on the base 106.

As a starting point, prior to mounting the latch 126 is biased towardthe latched position, as indicated by the latch direction in FIG. 5A, byone or more first biasing elements 130, such as compression springs.However, the latch 126 is held in the unlatched position by the one ormore push buttons 124, each of which are biased toward the extendedposition, as indicated by the button unlatch direction in FIG. 4B, byone or more second biasing elements 140.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 3B, base 106 may include one or moreprojections 148 extending from the base 106, e.g., at a generallyorthogonal angle relative the mounting surface 108. The one or moreprojections 148 may be used to guide the object 200 as it is positionedagainst the mounting surface 108 and received by the base 106. A personof ordinary skill in the art would understand from the descriptionherein that the one or more projections 148 may have any suitable sizeand shape, such that projections 148 contact at least one of the one ormore peripheral side surfaces 150 of the object 200, or mate withcorresponding recesses thereof, to firmly and reliably guide mating ofthe object 200 with the base 106. In this respect, the size ofprojections 148 may be precisely controlled with very limitedmanufacturing tolerances to promote such mating.

In a preferred example, the one or more projections 148 are configuredfor engaging with one of the one or more peripheral side surfaces 150 ofthe object 200. The engagement between the one or more projections 148and the one of the one or more peripheral side surfaces 150 of theobject 200 allows or enables the object 200 to be pivoted aroundprojections 148 between an unmounted position (FIG. 1A) and a mountedposition (FIG. 1B) of the object 200 relative to the mounting surface108 of the base 106. For example, as seen in FIG. 1A, the object 200 ispositioned obliquely relative to the mounting surface 108, and one ofthe one or more peripheral side surfaces 150 of the object 200 isengaged with the one or more projections 148 of the base 106.

The one or more projections 148 may be fixedly coupled to the mountingsurface 108, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, but one of ordinary skill inthe art would understand from the description herein that the one ormore projections 148 may be a distinct component separate from themounting surface 108. When the one or more projections 148 and themounting surface 108 are not integrally formed, the one or moreprojections 148 may be connected to at least the mounting surface 108via any suitable fasteners or combinations of fastening means, such asscrews, nuts and bolts, rivets, welding, adhesives, and so on. Otheralternatives and variations of the projections 148 will be apparent topersons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

Additionally or optionally, alignment of the object 200 against themounting surface 108 of the base 106 is guided by one or more posts 152.Specifically, the mounting surface 108 comprises one or more posts 152that are configured to mate with corresponding recesses of the object200 to align the object 200 with the base 106 during mounting. A personof ordinary skill in the art would understand from the descriptionherein that the one or more posts 152 may have any suitable size andshape, such that posts 152 mate with corresponding openings of the firstmain surface 102 of object 200 to firmly and reliably guide mating ofthe object 200 with the base 106. In this respect, the size of posts 152may be precisely controlled with very limited manufacturing tolerancesto promote such mating. Other alternatives and variations of the posts152 will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthe present disclosure.

In a non-limiting example, as seen in FIG. 6 , each of the one or moreposts 152 may be positioned adjacent a respective one of the one or morepush buttons 124. Advantageously, the one or more posts 152 furtherprevent accidental or premature latching of the object 200 to the base106. This is achieved by elevating a height of the one or more posts 152at an elevated distance relative to a height of the one or more pushbuttons 124, thereby preventing the one or more push buttons 124 frombeing accidentally pressed and actuated unless the object 200 is inproper alignment with posts 152. Stated differently, the height of theone or more posts 152 require that the object 200, such as computer orlaptop, be properly aligned first prior to permitting the application ofexternal force or pressure by object 200 on the one or more push buttons124 to activate the latch 126, i.e. move the latch 126 to the latchedposition.

As the object 200 is pivoted between the unmounted and mounted positionsand the object 200 is positioned against the mounting surface 108, anapplication of force or pressure on the one or more push buttons 124causes the one or more push buttons 124 to move in a downward movement,e.g. along the button latch direction of FIG. 5B, toward the depressedposition. In particular, when the at least one of the one or more pushbuttons 124 reaches the depressed position, the lower portion 136 of theone or more push buttons 124 disengages from frame 122, thereby allowingmovement of the frame 122 from the unlatched position toward the latchedposition. When the frame 122 reaches the latched position, the secondstop surface 146 of the frame 122 is positioned between the mountingsurface 108 of the base 106 and the first stop surface 144 of the atleast one of the one or more push buttons 124, blocking movement of theone or more push buttons toward the extended position. When the frame122 is moved toward the latched position, the latch 126 moves toward thelatched position, wherein the latch 126 engages with the at least onereceptacle 103 in the first main surface 102 for securing the object 200to the base 106. Specifically, the hook portion 104 of the latch 126engages with the at least one receptacle 103 of the first main surface102 of the object 200, such that the object 200 is held or secured whenit is mounted to the base 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 7A-7B, to release the object 200 from themounted position, the apparatus 100 comprises a releasable actuator,such as a lever 154, positioned at a surface, such as one of the one ormore peripheral side surfaces 110, of the base 106. The lever 154 isconfigured to move the frame 122 and the latch 126 between the latchedand unlatched positions and more specifically, from the latched to theunlatched position. In the non-limiting example illustrated by FIGS. 2and 7A-7B, the lever 154 is positioned on one of the one or moreperipheral side surfaces 110 of the base 106 adjacent the mountingsurface 108. Further, the lever 154 may be movably coupled to the frame122 and/or may not be fixedly coupled to the frame 122, such that lever154 can return to an un-pressed position when latch 126 and frame 122are in the unlatched position.

The lever 154 is configured to be actuated or pressed to move the frame122 and the latch 126 from the latched position to the unlatchedposition. In operation, when the object 200 is mounted and the lever 154is pressed, the latch 126 and the frame 122 are moved toward theunlatched position, thereby unblocking push bottoms 124 and enabling theone or more second biasing elements 140 to move the one or more pushbuttons 124 back to the extended position. In a preferred example, theone or more second biasing elements 140 are configured to generatesufficient biasing force to elevate the object 200 away from themounting surface 108 in moving the one or more push buttons 124 to theextended position. When the one or more push buttons 124 reach theextended position, the lower portion 136 of the at least one of the oneor more push buttons 124 once again blocks movement of the frame 122toward the latched position, such that the frame 122 and the latch 126are held in the unlatched position. When the frame 122 and the latch 126are in the unlatched position, the hook portion 104 of the latch 126 isblocked from engaging with the one or more receptacles 103 of the firstmain surface 102 of the object 200. The object 200 may then be removedfrom the apparatus 100, or moved away from the mounting surface 108 ofthe base 106. Lever 154 may remain in a pressed position (e.g., iffixedly coupled to frame 122), or may returned to an un-pressed positionunder a biasing force (e.g., if not fixed to frame 122).

FIGS. 2 and 7A-7B depict the lever 154 as an individual part that isseparate from the frame 122, but a person of ordinary skill in the artwould understand that the lever 154 and one or more components of theapparatus 100, such as the frame 122, may be integrally formed togetheras a single unitary part. Other alternatives and variations of the lever154 will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthe present disclosure.

The embodiments described herein may provide advantages over variousprior art docking stations that involve multiple steps to securely mountand latch an object, such as computer or laptop. In particular, thedisclosed embodiments may enable a single-step operation for mountingthe object 200 to apparatus 100. For example, the multiple steps ofprior art docking stations may comprise an alignment step of the objectin the correct orientation relative to the apparatus and separately, alatching step involving a secondary actuator or handle that wouldactivate the latch mechanism for securing the object. However, thepresent invention provides an improvement by requiring only the simple,single-step mounting process laid out above, i.e. the latch 126 issimultaneously actuated as the object is guided in the correct mountedorientation. Advantageously, this single-step design allows the computeror laptop to be mounted and unmounted single-handedly and with minimaleffort.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein withreference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to belimited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be madein the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claimsand without departing from the invention.

1. An apparatus for mounting an object within a vehicle, the objecthaving a first main surface, and at least one receptacle in the firstmain surface, the apparatus comprising: a base configured to receive theobject, the base comprising a mounting surface facing the first mainsurface of the object when the object is mounted to the base, a latchextending from the mounting surface of the base, the latch movablebetween a latched position and an unlatched position; a frame positionedwithin the base and fixedly coupled to the latch such that the frame ismovable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a firstbiasing element configured to bias the latch and the frame toward thelatched position; one or more push buttons extending from the mountingsurface of the base, the one or more push buttons movable between anextended position and a depressed position, at least one of the one ormore push buttons having a lower portion within the base, the lowerportion positioned to block movement of the frame from the unlatchedposition toward the latched position when the one or more push buttonsis in the extended position, and positioned to allow movement of theframe from the unlatched position toward the latched position when theat least one of the one or more push buttons is in the depressedposition; and one or more second biasing elements associated withrespective ones of the one or more push buttons, the one or more secondbiasing elements configured to bias the one or more push buttons towardthe extended position; wherein when the object is positioned against themounting surface, the first main surface of the object pushes the one ormore push buttons to the depressed position, thereby enabling the firstbiasing element to move the latch and the frame to the latched position,in which the latch engages with the at least one receptacle in the firstmain surface to secure the object to the base.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the one or more push buttons comprise a pair of push buttons,and the one or more second biasing elements comprise a pair of secondbiasing elements.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the pairof push buttons has the lower portion positioned to block movement ofthe frame from the unlatched position toward the latched position whenthe push button is in the extended position.
 4. The apparatus of claim3, wherein each of the pair of push buttons has an upper portionextending from the mounting surface of the base, the upper portionfixedly coupled to the respective lower portion of each of the pair ofpush buttons.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the latch ispositioned between the pair of push buttons.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the latch and the frame are movable between the latchedposition and the unlatched position in a direction parallel to themounting surface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or morepush buttons are movable between the extended position and the depressedposition in a direction orthogonal to the mounting surface.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the at least one ofthe one or more push buttons comprises a first stop surface positionedto engage with a second stop surface of the frame to block the movementof the frame from the unlatched position toward the latched positionwhen the push button is in the extended position, and wherein when theat least one of the one or more push buttons is in the depressedposition and the frame is in the latched position, the second stopsurface of the frame is positioned between the mounting surface of thebase and the first stop surface of the at least one of the one or morepush buttons.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting surfacecomprises one or more posts configured to mate with correspondingrecesses of the object to align the object with the base duringmounting.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the one or moreposts is positioned adjacent a respective one of the one or more pushbuttons.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a leverpositioned at a surface of the base, the lever movably coupled to theframe.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lever is not fixedlycoupled to the frame.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the leveris positioned on a peripheral side surface of the base adjacent themounting surface.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lever isconfigured to be pressed to move the frame and the latch from thelatched position to the unlatched position.
 15. The apparatus of claim14, wherein when the lever is pressed, the latch and the frame are movedtoward the unlatched position, thereby enabling the one or more secondbiasing elements to move the one or more push buttons to the extendedposition, in which the lower portion of the at least one of the one ormore push buttons blocks the frame from returning to the latchedposition.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when the object ismounted to the mounting surface, the one or more second biasing elementsgenerate sufficient biasing force elevate the object away from themounting surface in moving the one or more push buttons to the extendedposition.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or moreprojections extending from the base and configured to engage with aperipheral side surface of the object, the engagement between the one ormore projections and the peripheral side surface of the object enablingthe object to be pivoted between a mounted and an unmounted position ofthe object relative to the mounting surface of the base.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising electrical contacts positionedin an opening within the mounting surface, the electrical contactsconfigured to mate with corresponding contacts on the first main surfaceof the object.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frame definesa further opening surrounding the opening within the mounting surface inwhich the electrical contacts are positioned.
 20. A method for mountingan object within a vehicle, the object having a first main surface, andat least one receptacle in the first main surface, the methodcomprising: positioning the object with the first main surface facing amounting surface of a base configured to receive the object, a latch andone or more push buttons extending from the mounting surface; moving theobject toward the mounting surface such that the first main surfacepushes the one or more push buttons to a depressed position, themovement of the one or more push buttons to the depressed positionenabling the latch to move to a latched position in which the latchengages with the at least one receptacle in the first main surface tosecure the object to the base.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein thebase comprises one or more projections extending from the base andconfigured to engage with a peripheral side surface of the object,wherein the positioning comprises engaging the peripheral side surfaceof the object with the one or more projections, and wherein the movingcomprises pivoting the object around the one or more projections to movethe object toward the mounting surface.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the base comprises a lever positioned at a surface of the base,the lever movably coupled to the latch, the method further comprising:pressing the lever to move the latch from the latched position to anunlatched position, wherein movement of the latch toward the unlatchedposition enables the one or more push buttons to move to an extendedposition, in which at least one of the one or more push buttons blocksthe latch from returning to the latched position.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the base comprises one or more second biasing elementscoupled to respective ones of the one or more push buttons, and whereinthe pushing comprises generating sufficient biasing force with the oneor more second biasing elements to elevate the object away from themounting surface when the one or more push buttons move to the extendedposition.